Yinka Ajayi is set to rub shoulders with some of the world’s best when the women’s 400m final gets underway at the Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast, Australia, on Wednesday, April 11th.
The Durban 2016 Silver medallist who is Nigeria’s sole representative in the 400m final, placed 2nd in the semis on Day 6 of the Games where she clocked a time of 51.81s to finish behind Kenya’s Maximila Imali (51.52s).
Ajayi has been drawn in Lane 7 in the final which comes up at 12.45pm (Nigerian time), and will be engaged in a battle of superiority with defending champion Stephenie McPherson and former World Champion Amantle Montsho amongst others.
Meanwhile, Nigerian Record holder in the women’s Hammer throw, Queen Obisesan finished 5th in the final on Tuesday, securing a best throw of 63.84m on her first attempt. Her next four attempts landed at 62.95m, 62.01m, 62.40m and 61.77m respectively. She was fouled on her sixth throw.
The event was won by New Zealand’s Julia Ratcliffe (69.94m), as Australia’s duo of Alexandra Hulley and Lara Nielsen won Silver and Bronze respectively with 68.20m and 65.03m.
It was a similar tale for Blessing Ibrahim in the women’s Triple Jump final, as she also placed 5th with a best leap of 13.48m. It was a 1-2 for Jamaica in the event as Kimberly Williams retained her title with a Personal Best (PB) of 14.64m as Shanieka Ricketts followed with a Season’s Best (SB) of 14.52m.
